Chapter 29 A Shocking Scene

No sooner had Jenny reached the gate of the mental hospital than she found it even harder to enter it. The security there became stricter with surrounding security personnel in uniforms standing outside the door; inside the hospital, many security guardians wearing formal uniforms were going on their patrolling. As Jenny and Guilan were moving nearer toward the hospital, a guardian came up to block them, “Our hospital is locked today,” said the guardian seriously, “and no one is allowed in.” “Why?” asked Jenny in doubt. “We are just following the instruction from our higher manager, without knowing why,” answered the guardian expressionlessly. “But my husband is here in it now; I’m coming to top up the payment account,” replied Jenny immediately. “No way, either,” replied the guardian indifferently. “The hospital has been thoroughly closed, so you can’t do anything even if you entered it.” Jenny was completely speechless. What all the fuss was about in such a mental hospital? Has she been born with bad luck and doomed to meet hardships everywhere? As Jenny frowned and was about to speak, the security supervisor approached to warn her severely, “Miss, please do not be hard on us,” said the security supervisor, putting on a stern face. “To tell you the truth, a prominent person has arrived in our hospital, so no one is allowed in. You might as well go back.” It can be easily judged from his words that the prominent person has a very unique status that can’t be accessed by anyone. Jenny had neither the access to the hospital nor anyone to turn to. “This is what God meant. Didn’t you find that?” Guilan comforted her. “God wanted you to let go of that idiot. There is no need to care about him. Let’s go back.” Was it really the providence? Standing still, Jenny stared at the hospital in front of her for a while, “Let’s go back,” said she finally, turning around reluctantly. After leaving the hospital, the two of them took a taxi directly to the Westplain railway station. Having deliberately considering on the train, Guilan finally decided to go back to her parents’ home, “Sweetheart, how about going to visit your maternal grandfather in Jiangzhou City?” asked Guilan. “He will celebrate his seventieth birthday the other day, so we are going to live there for a few days. “It depends on you,” said Jenny with her eyes closed. Wherever to go made no difference to her as long as she could leave this place. Jiangzhou City as the prefecture-level city has no worse economic strength than that of Westplain City. Guilan’s family has a long history in Jiangzhou City; during the past few years, it has gone through much in ups and downs. The time she got married, her family was in the worst of its recession, but she finally reached her most glorious time after marrying into Xia Family in Westplain City. She enjoyed a lot being the wife of a well-off man. She became arrogant, not wanting to keep any relations with her maternal family, so the times she went back to her parents’ family were quiet limited. Even though she went back, the only reason for her returning was to show off in front of their family members. As time passed by, things turned more and more terrible in her life. She became a widow after her husband died young; her daughter married an idiot abruptly; the old man who always backed them up in Xia Family passed away, leaving the big family into a gradual decline. Due to all these reasons, Guilan became a housewife from a rich and well-provided lady, with an idiot as her son-in-law. As for her maternal family, they have progressed a lot. With obtaining great luck these years, they have reached the heyday of the family, and the family now is one of the renowned families in Jiangzhou City! Things will sure change. When she had lived prosperously, she had disdained her maternal family; when stuck in bleak life, she felt ashamed to meet her maternal family again. As a result, she got further and further away from her family. However, since she was forced to such hopeless situation, she had no option but return home. It was at the noon that two of them arrived at the house of Family Huang. The house was very old with a comparatively long history. But old as it was, it was spacious enough, looking solemn and simple. Obviously, the people who lived here were profound in culture and knowledge. Standing at the gate of the house, Guilan reorganized her clothes and knocked at the door. Soon, the door was opened as a doorman walked out of the house. He knew about Guilan, and therefore let them in without saying anything. After walking through the yard, Guilan and Jenny who were carrying luggage in their hands finally arrived at the main house. A woman in fashionable clothes came out of the house and said cynically, “Oh. Is that Guilan? What a distinguished guest!” On seeing this woman, Guilan forced a smile and said immediately, “How are you, sister?” That fashionable woman was none but her sister-in-law, Ping Luo. In the past, Guilan looked down upon her. But things were completely changed as her maternal family became flourishing. Considering her brother was successful but she was the loser seeking help from her maternal family, she naturally changed her attitude towards Ping Luo. However, Ping Luo didn’t appreciate Guilan’s attitude and said coldly to her, “Don’t call me sister. When did you treat me as your sister?” Having glancing at the luggage in Guilan’s hands, she sneered at her, saying, “Why are you bringing so much luggage with you?” Since Ping Luo behaved too aggressively, showing no kindness to her, Guilan eventually chose to contradict her, “Can’t I live in my parents’ house?” said Guilan angrily. “No way!” answered Ping Luo indifferently. “When did you consider here as your home after you married into Xia Family? Only when confronted with difficult situation did you think of your so called family?” Guilan was never a woman of much patience. Having been deliberately humiliated, Guilan gradually lost her temper, “I must enter the house and see my dad today! It’s none of your business! Get out of my way!” said Guilan angrily as she rushed into the main house with luggage in hands. Ping Luo stopped her at once and said seriously, “You can’t enter the house; father is meeting with someone important. You can’t disturb them.” As they disputed furiously with each other, a strict voice rang out, “What’s the fuss?” A group of people walked out of the main house, among who was the leader, a grey-haired old man. He was Guilan’s father, Pingan Huang. Seeing Guilan and Jenny, he asked indifferently with his face put on sulk, “Why are you here?” His tone was alienated and full of repulsion, and he seemed to have no affection for the daughter and the granddaughter. Guilan looked at Pingan and said cowardly, “Dad, considering you are about to be seventy years old, we intentionally come here to offer you birthday congratulations. “I can’t bear your congratulations!” said Pingan with no kindness. Apparently, he was extremely discontent with this daughter. “That woman was very arrogant with eyes on the head. She had never returned her maternal family when leading a rich life. With her life turning abject and full of hardships, she chose to return home. Who appreciate such behavior?” “Yes. She was such a snobbish and disgusting woman.” “Her daughter who married an idiot was also a bad woman. They both looked unlucky.” “That’s right! Our family became prosperous after her leaving here. But Xia Family began to go downward after her coming. She is a jinx.” Members of Family Huang crowded around Guilan, expressing their dissatisfaction about her. Guilan was completely blank-minded in these rumors. Yesterday in Xia Family, she lost all her face and dignity; today in her maternal family, she was scorned by all family members. She felt bitter in the heart, but she knew it was all her fault and it was also reasonable for her family to reproach her. Hearing such harsh words, Jenny was very uncomfortable and felt somewhat hard to breathe. She just wanted to get away from this house. But it was at this moment that a man came into the room. He stared at Jenny and asked, “What an attractive beauty! What’s your name please? The man talking was the so called important guest, Jingming Zhang. He was the general manager of Jiangzhou Branch of Jiangdong Bank, also a prominent figure in Jiangzhou City. Many a big boss would please him for business promotion, including Family Huang. With the business becoming booming, Family Huang had some difficulty in capital turnover. In order to overcome such difficulty, they had to seek help from Jingming. Pingan has spared all his efforts to invite him home and tried every means to persuade him into approving the loans. However, the amount of money he finally got was too limited. When worrying about how to impress Jingming to approve more loans, he exposed himself that he was interested in Jenny. Pingan was a well-experienced old fox, he saw through Jingming at one sight. Therefore, he continued to answer, “This is my granddaughter Jenny who specially came from Westplain City to see me.” Jingming nodded his head and praised at Jenny, “Very good! Little pussy, you just came to Jiangzhou City, didn’t you? Will it be ok if I treat you a meal?” asked Jingming. Without hesitation, she refused, “Sorry. I’ve had meals,” answered Jenny. She was not the woman who judged a person from his appearance even though Jingming was a pot-bellied, middle-aged man with bald head, but he was indeed a bad guy for he stared at her all the way, which made Jenny feel extremely awful. She would never eat with that kind of person! On hearing this, Pingan persuaded Jenny at once, “Jenny, listen. Boss Zhang is our distinguished guest! Good girl, take my advice to dine with uncle Zhang.” For Pingan, Jenny was a treasure that could be used to please Jingming. “I don’t want to,” Jenny refused immediately. She seldom came to this house, and was also unfamiliar with the family here. The only reason she came here was Guilan’s decision. How could she listen to her grandfather to dine with that greasy middle-aged man? Pingan was very unsatisfied with Jenny’s reply, “You…” cried he furiously. Jingming interrupted Pingan before he finished talking, and said “Don’t be like this. We are the family, and don’t hurt anybody’s feeling. Treat her warmly after all it was not easy for her to come here.” While speaking, Jingming patted Pingan gently on the shoulder and then left. With the words left by Jingming, Family Huang surely followed his suggestion and treated Guilan and Jenny “better”. Seeing the changes in their attitudes, Guilan felt better in the heart. Although all these were on Jingming’s account, she didn’t care about it. For her, it’s nothing better than staying here. Even though they pretended to show hospitality, Jenny could still feel the obvious change in their attitude. Therefore, she became less hostile to them. During the night, Family Huang entertained them generously with bountiful food. The atmosphere at table was quiet “warm” and “sweet” with all the family members toasting each other and smiling happily. Failing to withhold their enthusiasm, Jenny drank several cups of beer, but soon became faint with her face flushing .She was never a good drinker. After dinner, Jenny waved goodbye to other family members and said, “I got a bit of headache; I’ m going to sleep now.” After saying that, she left for her bedroom at once, without staying for a while. “Let me take you there!” said Ping Luo, rising to her feet quickly. Then, she helped Jenny to a wing-room of the house. The room of the house was not bad. It was furnished with all sorts of furnishings and its decoration was so classic and sophisticated in which only distinguished guests could live. The family did treat Jenny “specially”! “Good night and have a good rest,” said Ping. After helping Jenny to the wing-room, she left with the door closed. In fact, she locked the door secretly. Jenny stumbled to the bedroom of the wing-room. After throwing her coat onto the bed, she took out her clean clothes from the suitcase, walking toward the toilet to take a shower. The moment she got to the doorway, the door of the toilet was suddenly opened. A man in underpants went out of the toilet, with water dripping down from his body. He was no one but Jingming Zhang.